GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team secured a 77-72 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs on Thursday evening to begin The Southern Conference (SoCon) slate inside Bodford Arena.

Three Spartans reached double-figures in the contest with KJ Younger leading the way with a new career-best 24 points. Justin Neely followed closely behind with 17 points, while Donald Whitehead Jr. chipped in 13 points. Neely led the game with 11 rebounds to record his 15th career double-double and eighth of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG opened the game with a 9-2 run, which began with a three-pointer by Whitehead Jr. The Spartans climbed to an eight-point lead, 15-7, but an 11-3 run by the Mocs tied the game at 18-18 with 9:52 left in the first half. Chattanooga then swiftly took its first lead following a jumper by Jikari Johnson, 20-18. The score was tied three more times, with the latter occurring with 4:16 remaining in the half, 27-27. Following back-to-back free throws by the Mocs' Houston Holland, Chattanooga remained on top even with a 7-6 battle to end the frame for a 34-33 advantage.

The Spartans went on a 10-0 run to start the second half, putting them up nine, 43-34, in the first 4:47 of play. A three-pointer from the Mocs broke up the run, but UNCG was able to maintain the lead until Chattanooga tied the game at 50-50 with 13:03 remaining. The score continued to go back-and-forth until late in the contest. With 2:31 on the clock, Valentino Pinedo's putback propelled the Spartans to an 11-0 run to take a 75-69 lead with 20 seconds remaining. Chattanooga's Brennan Watkins drained a three-pointer with nine seconds left to cut the deficit to three, 75-72. However, Noah Norgaard went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to grant UNCG with the 77-72 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• UNCG bested Chattanooga in rebounds (41-25), second chance points (13-2), points in the paint (34-28) and fast break points (13-8).
• Chattanooga led the way in bench points (31-12), blocks (4-0), steals (8-7) and assists (16-9).
• The two teams were tied in points off turnovers (15-15).
• Younger was one board shy of a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds.
• Neely led the way with four assists.
• Pinedo and Whitehead Jr. recorded three steals apiece.

RECORDS
UNCG: 5-9, 1-0 SoCon
UTC: 6-8, 0-1 SoCon

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UP NEXT
UNCG will conclude its five-game homestand with Samford on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. inside Bodford Arena. This game will be part of a doubleheader with the women's team playing at 1:00 p.m.

Fans who attend the women's game (who do not already have a ticket to the men's game) are able to stay for the men's game but must relocate to section two in Bodford Arena upon conclusion of the 1:00 p.m. games on Thursday and Saturday. If fans have a men's ticket, you are allowed to enter the women's games both days.